This article addressed that the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Torch Relay route has been officially announced. As an avid sports fan, and an aspiring athlete I find this information very exciting. I was thrilled to hear that the route expands across Canada, including every province and territory, as well as including many towns and cities across the nation. In fact I was so excited that I filled out an application to carry the torch myself when the relay comes into Vancouver. Anyone can register, you simply need to apply at the registration. I think the fact that we include all of Canada in this exciting event truly shows how inclusive a nation we are. We leave no one behind. I also like that there is a registration process, instead of people just being drawn at random. This ensures that deserving people will have the opportunity to represent their country. The people selected to carry the torch must either make a difference to their community, be a leader, be involved in sports or an aspiring athlete, or any combination of the above. Before or after you have registered online you can read other people’s stories of why they feel they should be chosen. Anyone can vote for their favorite applicant. This involves Canadians in the process of who their representative should be. Because Canada is a democratic nation, I think this is a very fair way to choose. Overall I found this article very informative and interesting. Hopefully I will be one of the few chosen to represent Canada in the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympic Torch Relay!
2010 Olympic Torch Relay route announced
Gary Kingston, Vancouver SunPublished: Thursday, November 20, 2008
Link to the Story
Friday, November 21, 2008
Use Tasers Responsibly
Regarding the article "Zap the Taser"
I agree somewhat with your editorial on Taser use in Canada.It is clear that Tasers are not being treated as seriously as they should be. People have been Tasered for minor reasons, such as small struggles with police, uch as with the incident involving Robert Dzercanski, the man who was Tasered and killed in the Vancouver airport as your article mentions. Since there is a possibility of death, it is important that officers use Tasers as a last resort, one step before using a gun. If it is used unneccessarily then the victim could be killed, which seems like an unfair punishment for a small dispute with the police. Many officers are told that Tasers are "safer than Tylenol" but according to multiple studies that simply isn't true. It's critical that officers are getting all the facts so they can make calculated decisions before using this weapon. Tasers aren't necessarily bad, as they can immobilize, usually without causing death or injury. As a matter of fact they do save lives. Conflicts that may in the past have ended with the trigger of a gun being pulled now can be stopped without fatalities for the most part by Tasers. I don't think we need to "zap the Taser" altogether, but it should be used more responsibly by police and other law enforcers.
Rebecca Staynor, North Vancouver
Time to zap the Taser
The Province
Published: Monday, November 10, 2008
Link to the Story
I agree somewhat with your editorial on Taser use in Canada.It is clear that Tasers are not being treated as seriously as they should be. People have been Tasered for minor reasons, such as small struggles with police, uch as with the incident involving Robert Dzercanski, the man who was Tasered and killed in the Vancouver airport as your article mentions. Since there is a possibility of death, it is important that officers use Tasers as a last resort, one step before using a gun. If it is used unneccessarily then the victim could be killed, which seems like an unfair punishment for a small dispute with the police. Many officers are told that Tasers are "safer than Tylenol" but according to multiple studies that simply isn't true. It's critical that officers are getting all the facts so they can make calculated decisions before using this weapon. Tasers aren't necessarily bad, as they can immobilize, usually without causing death or injury. As a matter of fact they do save lives. Conflicts that may in the past have ended with the trigger of a gun being pulled now can be stopped without fatalities for the most part by Tasers. I don't think we need to "zap the Taser" altogether, but it should be used more responsibly by police and other law enforcers.
Rebecca Staynor, North Vancouver
Time to zap the Taser
The Province
Published: Monday, November 10, 2008
Link to the Story
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